Let's not boycott ExxonMobil. Instead, we should purchase ExxonMobil stock. That way when their profits soar, our profits soar, which helps us offset the higher cost of gasoline. When profits drop, our profits drop, but so does the cost of gasoline ("Boycott oil companies," Letters, Tuesday).

Why do we continually attack the free market system that makes this country great? Let's embrace it instead. Maybe if our Social Security system were partly invested in Big Oil, we wouldn't have a Social Security problem. And if it were, I bet there would never be another Senate hearing on Big Oil's windfall profits.

Seem farfetched? There are billions of shares of ExxonMobil stock out there. Who owns it? Insiders in the company own less than 1%. The rest is owned by us Americans — yes, and foreigners. They own the stock either directly as stockholders, or through retirement plans, mutual funds, hedge funds or other instruments — more than 3,000 the last time I looked.

So if you're disgruntled about Big Oil profitability, buy stock. You can light a candle or curse the darkness.

Steve Sheehan, Issaquah, Wash.

Big Oil's big mistake

Regardless of whether or not you believe the big oil companies gouged us after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, I can't help but say they certainly didn't do anything to help us out. They didn't even remotely show sympathy toward our suffering in the aftermath. Disgraceful.

I'm reminded of a scene from the movie Mr. Mom. The president of Schooner Tuna is advised to take a stand for housewives and do a commercial announcing he'll temporarily lower prices to get consumers through a crisis of rising tuna prices. Had Big Oil's executives taken the same approach, they would have gained consumer trust and loyalty. They also would have looked as if they really cared about the tremendous, devastating impact the storms had on us.

But rather than capitalizing on an excellent PR opportunity to boost their standing in the minds of consumers, our oil companies focused on making money at our expense.

While the goal of any business might be to make money for itself and its stockholders, in this particular case, where there was such massive and devastating destruction, they should have helped us out. Not doing so hurt them far more, and it's not something consumers will forget anytime soon or in the distant future.

Big mistake.

Ron Auerbach, Kent, Wash.

A-list for A-Rod

The Most Valuable Player Award in the American League couldn't have gone to a more deserving player than Alex Rodriguez. He had a Hall of Fame season both at bat and in the field, and beat out Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who had an incredible season himself ("Yanks' Rodriguez edges Ortiz to grab AL MVP honors," Sports, Tuesday).

New York Yankees fans who are still moaning about A-Rod's underwhelming two hits in 15 at-bats in the playoffs should wake up and realize that but for Rodriguez, they never would have made the playoffs.

Michael J. Gorman, Whitestone, N.Y.

Aniston annoyance

I don't know about anyone else, but I am so sick of seeing and hearing about Jennifer Aniston. Can't newspapers and other media outlets find anyone else of real interest to write about ("Aniston remains our favorite Friend," Life, Tuesday)?

The actress wasn't everyone's favorite "Friend," at least not mine. I would also like to know why she felt she had to appear half naked in GQ. She appears to be another actress who has chosen to demean herself — and other women — in the process of enjoying fame.

How can these scientists who, by their own definition, are searching for truth, shut this door in front of their very own faces? The Dalai Lama is not promoting Buddhism here but meditation — an activity that many people use, whether they're Buddhist, Christian or a member of another religion.

The Dalai Lama practices meditation; he just happens to be a Buddhist. Buddhists have been studying and practicing meditation for ages. It is not necessary to adopt the religion to use the practice.